Lighting control system



I l' l l t l I INVENTOR Q m y u. 2 A ORNEY y 1941- P. HOLCOMB, JR 22 985 men me CONTROL: s smu I Original Filed June 28, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG; 2

Juvly 1941- P. HOLCOMB, JR. 48,085 LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed June 2s, 1933 s Sheets-Sfieet 2- *w .L'IF

5mm: and/P INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 8, 1941. P. HOLCOMB, JR

I LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed June 2a, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

BY MENTOR Jul 8, 1941.

P. HOLQQMB, JR LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed June 28. 1938 mveu'ro I 43M. 1406 BY ATTORNEY n July 8, 1941.

P. HOLCOMB, JR

LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed June 28, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3 g i I "l I I "@kfifl *r" a I I I. we; I I Q 3 I II V [x g L i N L 1 I i i III III Ill INVENTOR m/M ATTORNEY Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE" Continuation of application Serial No. 216,202,

application April 1, 1939,

June 28, 1938. This Serial No. 265,480

Claims. (01. 17610) This invention relates to electrical control systems and more particularly to lighting control systems, for example for the lamps'in a residence,

oflice, factory or the like.

number of lamps in different rooms or locations from one control point, or from any one of several points, as for example to flood the house with light in an emergency or for greater convenience. control system is provided enabling a person to turn on the lights in several rooms, in the hall and in the stairway, for example when he enters or leaves the house at night, and then extinguish all of the group of lights from the upper hall, porch or other point as convenient,

thereby avoiding the necessity of traversing darkened rooms as at present. A system of this character is obviously a great convenience under many circumstances, as it provides for a flexible control of the lights in several rooms or locations which have hitherto been controlled only individually or locally. Frequently this has necessitated traversing darkened rooms or halls to turn the lights on and retracing of steps to turn them off. Furthermore the system provides for group control of selected lights less than the total number in an installation, the other lights being independent of the group control feature.

The system embodying the invention has other uses and advantages. In case of attempted burand the like because of the flexible control provided. To cite a single instance, the invention enables the watchman to make eflicient use of the electric lights in the building while making his rounds at night. The premises can be flooded with light so as to enhance the effectiveness of his work without requiring him to retrace his steps to turn off lights that he has turned on, which has hitherto prevented a general use of the regular lighting system by the watchman.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof shown on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a circuit; diagram of .a lighting control system embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar diagram of a modified system employing a remote-control device, such as an electromagnetic relay for controllingv the In accordance with the invention a 23 forming a part of the group control circuit,

lights as a group; and

Figs. 3-5 are diagrams of further modifications embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig, l the lamps In, ll, [2, l3 and I4 represent the lights in five separate rooms, for example. These lamps are individually controlled by the switches ii, iii, I1,

- l8 and 19 in the usual manner. These switches: represent the conventional wall switches and are arranged to connect the respective lamps to the conductors of a three-wire supply circuit 20, 2|, 22, when the switches are thrown to the left as shown in the drawings. The right-hand contacts of the switches l5 (left'hand switch blade), l6, l1 and I8 (left hand switch blade) are connected to a fourth supply conductor or group feeder" as will be explained.

glary or the presence of prowlers in the grounds surrounding a home, it is often possible to frighten the intruders away, even after entry has been effected, by lighting the rooms and porches of the house. It is obviously desirable to do this quickly from any one of several master control stations, including one located upstairs or far removed from the point at which entry is being effected or attempted. In accordance with the invention, these and other advantages are attained in a simple and effective manner.

Systems embodying the invention are alsoconvenient and useful in factories, office buildings With this arrangement it will be apparent that when the conductor 23 is alive, the lamps II, II, l2 and I3 which are connected to said conductor by reason of the associated individual control switches being thrown to the right hand or off position, will be lighted so that the lights which has been turned off" at the individual switches may be turned on and off by ener- 'gization and deenergization of the conductor 23.

It is assumed that it is found desirable that certain of the lamps, represented by-the two right hand lamps of the sets-or clusters l0 and 13 as well as the lamp H, be not under the control of the group control means, and therefore these lamps are not connected so as to be energized by the group feeder or conductor 23 when the individual control switches are actuated to the off position. Either of the terms set" or- "cluster is used to describe two or more lamps in one room jointly controlled by a single switch. In accordance with the invention, master control switches 25, 26, 21, 28, 29 and 30, are provided for group control of the lamps in the various rooms. Each control station is represented 'by a dotted rectangle on the drawing and as shown certain of the master control switches may be located adjacent individual control switches, for example with the operating levers or push buttons extending through a common face plate, whereas other master control switches represented by the switch 26 may be located in a convenient place removed from any of the indi- Y vidual control switches of the lighting installaa conductor 36 connected to one of the supply circuit conductors, for example .conductor 22. The master switches are shown as double throw reversing switches so interconnected that when a circuit is established from conductor to conductor 36, the operation of any master switch will open this connection; and conversely when the connection is open between conductors 35 and 36, the operation of any master switch to its alternate position will close the connection to energize the group feeder 23. As shown, the conductor 35 is not connected to conductor 36 and the group feeder 23 isdead although the individual lamps may be turned on and oil by their local switches |5 to IS in the usual manner. However, if any one of the master control switches 26 to 30 is actuated to the opposite position from that shown, a circuit is closed from the supply conductor 22 through conductor 36, the

contacts of the master switchesand conductor 35 to the conductor 23 whereupon all of the lamps which have been turned "01! at their local switches are lighted (except the two right hand lamps of the clusters I0 and I3 and the lamp I 4 which are independent of the group control fea-. ture as described above). parent that subsequent operation of any one of the master switches to its alternate position will extinguish the group control'lamps by reopening the above-described group control circuit.

It will be apparent that the system shown in Fig. 1 permits convenient control; of lamps in separate rooms from any one of severalcontrol points without affecting the lights which have been turned on by the local control switch in any particular room. Thus a selected number of lamps distributed throughout a premises may be turned on and off" as a group without retracing of steps to extinguish lights which havebeen turned on" and permitting lights to be turned "on" in darkened rooms before entering 'the same. Furthermore, where .a set orcluster of lamps is provided in one room as indicated at I0 and I3, only a part of the cluster may be made subject to the group control to decrease the lighting load while the group is turned on, if desired. In addition, any desired lamps such as those in bedrooms may be made independent of It will also be ap-' the group control circuit as shown in connection with the lamp] 4. V

Fig. 2 illustrates a modified system also arranged for combined individual and'group control of a plurality of lamps or lighting fixtures in separate locations. The arrangement of the lamps III, II, l2 and I3 and of their individual control switches l5, l6, I1 and I8, respectively, is generally similar to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 except that a two-wire supply circuit 20, 2| is shown by way ofexample, and the lamps of the cluster l3 may be individually controlled by two separate switches |B and lBa'. These changes are merely exemplary of conventional or typical modifications of lighting circuits well known in the art. This modification of the invention also embodies the group feeder 23 associated with the ofi contacts of the individual control switches |5, l6 and H in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1, but in this embodiment of the invention the connection of the group feeder 23 through the conductor 36 to the main supply circuit is controlled by a relay 40. Master control switches 42, 43, 44 and 45, corresponding to switches 25 to 30 in Fig. 1, are provided for controlling the lamps II] to l3 as a group, but in this instance the master control switches are in circuit with the winding of relay 40 arranged to energize the group feeder 23. It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the master control circuit of Fig. 1 that the switches 42, 43, 44 and 45 other control relays such as 4| arranged to close the circuit of other group feeders 230, etc., to which other lamps may be connected in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1. Control relay 40 or 4| may be responsive to additional switches or circuit-controlling means corresponding to switches 42, 43, 44 and 45. The relay energizing circuit may be energized from a-battery 49 as shown or a low voltage step-down transformer, permitting low voltage inexpensive wiring between the master control stations-or the relay circuit may be energized from the main supply circuit conductors 20, 2| if desired. An emergency control switch 46 may also be provided if desired for closing the circuit of the relays 40, 4|

in such a manner that the lights cannot be extinguished by the operation of any of the other master control switches. The switch 48 is thrown to the alternate position from that shown to turn the lights on.

With this arrangement it isnecessary to restore the switch 46 to the open position in order to extinguish the lights connected to the group control circuit. The emergency switch 46 in this position is novel and permits emergency locking and group control functions by control of the low voltage system.

Another modification of the invention. is shown in Fig. 3, wherein a slow-release or time-delay switch 60, GI, 62 is provided at each of the control stations where control of the group of lights is desired (which may be termed master control stations). Inasmuch as each of the control stations is identical, a description of the first station and the switch 60 will serve to explain the operation. The lamp l0 may be conencted and disconnected from the supply circuit conductors 20 and 2| by actuating the manually operable switch lever 63, and in the lower or ofi position of said switch lever, one side of the lamp is connected to the group feeder 23 (as indicated at the second station). The switch 68 further comprises a time-delay switch member 64 arranged when operated to bridge contacts 65 to-connect the group feeder 23 to the conductor 2| and thereby light all of the lamps which have been turned off" by the respective switches. The operating lever 83 has a lost-motion connection with the switch member 64, represented by a pin 66 on said lever extending into a slot 61 in the switch member, so that the lever 63 may return to its normal off".position after depressing the switch member 64. Thus the switch member 64, when depressed as described, remains in engagement with the contacts 65 for a period determined by conventional time-delay mechanism, after which the circuit 'of the group feeder is opened automatically and the group lights extinguished; on the other hand, the lever 63 may be raised at any time to the position shown to open the group control circuit whenever desired, irrespective of the action of the time-delay mechanism. N retarded restoring mechanism for the switch member 64 is shown, as many arrangements suitable for the purpose are well known, including the ordinary dashpot timedelay mechanism.

Another modification of the invention is shown n Fig. 4, this modification being quite similar to that shown in Fig. 3 except that a single time switch common to all of the control stations serves to extinguish the group of lights automatically after a predetermined lapse of time, as well as to turn the group of lights on by remote control from the respective stations. The switch 18 comprises a retarded switch member H which is stepped over its associated contacts by an operating magnet 12. An operating pawl 13 carried by the armature 14 of the magnet 12 is adapted 'to engage a ratchet wheel 15 connected to the non-shorting switch member 1| and to a retarding vane 16 immersed in a viscous fluid. The spacing of the teeth of the ratchet wheel I5 issuch that each step of the ratchet mechanism carries the switch member ll from the starting associated contact over-the succeeding contact and into engagementwith the next contact of the series. The time required for each complete step of the switch 10 is slightly greater than the predetermined period duringwhich the group of lights is to remain on.

The arrangement of the lights I8, I and 2, their individual control switches I5, I 6 and I1,

and the group feeder 23 corresponds to that shown in Fig.2 and described, above except that the energization of the'feeder 23 is controlled by the switch .18. Master control switches or push buttons TI, 18 and 19 are provided at'each of the control stations for operating the switch 10.

When any meet the control switches 11, 18 or an operating magnet 86 and three switch wipers 81, 88 and 89 is arranged to connect some of the group of lamps to one side and some to the other 7 side of the supply circuit. The lamps l2 and I3 I are individually controlled by conventional switches 5 and I6, and at these stations push button master control switches and 85 for controlling the group are also provided. A pilot lamp 90 is also shown at the latter station for indicating whether the group feeder 23 is energized when the master control switch 85 is operated.

If desired, combined master and local control switches 9| and 92 of novel construction may be provided at the control stations. The switch 9| comprises a manually operable switch member 93 which can be rocked about its pivot to make and break the circuit of the lamp l0, and also depressed or actuated lengthwise to close contacts 94 to operate the remote controlled step-bystep switch. The switch 92 embodies a variation of the same arrangement wherein the manually operable switch member 95 for controlling the local circuit, when actuated beyond either of its normal extreme positions, closes the contacts 96 to operate the group feeder switch. It will be apparent that closure of either of the switches 84 or 85, or of the contacts 94 or 96, closes a circuit between the conductors 2| and 22 of the supply circuit including the operating magnet 86 of the remote control switch. The wipers 81, 88 and 89 of said switch in their step-by-step movement alternately connect and disconnect the group from the supply circuit, the group feeder 23 being connected through the switch wiper. 88 to one side of the three-wire supply circuit and the lamps l0 and II being connected through the switch wipers 89 and'81 respectively, to the other side of the supply circuit when the circuits through the remote control switch are closed.

The switch 9| or 92 shown in Fig. 5 may be utilized if desired in the other embodiments of ,theinvention, for example in Figs. 1 and 2. In

I9 is closed and then opened, a circuit is closed through said switch and the switch member "H for energizing the magnet 12. It will be apparent that during the ensuing cycle of operation of the switch 10, a circuit is closed through the second, fourth, sixth or eighth contact thereof, the switch member H, the group feeder 23 and the right hand contacts of switches l5, l6 and H for lighting the lamps l8, H and I2. The lamps remain on as long as the switch member II is in engagement with the said associated contacts and are then turned off by the further travel of said switch member.

Another modification of the invention embodythis case, the contacts 94 or 96 would be replaced by one of the switches 25-38 or 42- -45 and be arranged to alternately move from one position to the other upon successive actuation of the operating member in a-manner similar to the operation of the conventional rotary push switch.

It will be evident from the above description of the systems shown in the accompanying drawings that the invention may be utilized in practise with .various arrangements of circuits and a great many different types of control switches and other apparatus. In general, the auxiliary apparatus and the circuit employed both depend upon the particular lighting system and arrangement used and the desired functions to be performed by the auxiliary control means. The systems described by way of example illustrate several possibilities in the direction of more flexible control of separated lighting units, including the lighting of all or any selected ones of'the units from a plurality of convenient control statidns and the extinguish-- ing thereof either manually from any one of several control stations or automatically after a predetermined lapse of time. Furthermore the system may be arranged as shown so as not to affect the lights in occupied rooms or. oflices ,where the lamps have been turned on by the conventional individual control switches. Other modifications of the circuits and apparatus shown and described above will occur to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 7

I claim:

1. An electric control system comprising a supply circuit, a plurality of translating devices, a plurality of separate control switches individual to the respective translating devices and arranged to connect said devices to and disconnect the same from said supply circuit, a plurality of master control switches and means including any of said master control switches for simultaneously controlling the connection of all of said devices in relation to the supply circuit except those which are connected to the supply circuit at the moment by the individual control switches, to successively'control operation of two of said master control switches.

2'. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps, switch means for individually controlling said lamps and means' including a plurality of other group control switches at sepa-- rated points for turning "on and oil all of said lamps as a group, said last mentioned means being arranged to control the lighting and extinguishing of the lamp of the group which are turned off by their individual switch means at any of said points irrespective of the adiustment of any of the other group control switches.

3. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps for lighting separate rooms or areas, individual control switch means for each of said rooms or areas for lighting and extinguishing said lamps and means including a plurality of master control switches at separated control points for successively lighting and extinguishing certain but not all of the lamps inthe system by successive operation of two of said master control switches, said certain lamps ,inj of said rooms or areas for lighting and extinguishing said lamps, a plurality of double-throw master. control switches at separated control points and means including said master control switches whereby all of said lamps which are extinguished by their individual control switch means are lighted by actuating one of said master control switches to its alternate position and thereafter said last-mentioned lamps are extinguished by actuating another of said master control switches to its alternate position.

of said rooms or areas for lighting or extinguishing said lamps, a group feeder for supplying current to the lamps in a plurality of said rooms or areas, said group feeder being multiplied to the oif" contacts of the individual control switch means to light the associated lamps which have been turned off by any one of said means when the group feeder is energized, a step-by-step switch in said group feeder and meansto operate said step-by-step switch for controlling the lamps as a group. l

'7. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps for lighting separate rooms or areas, individual control switch means for each of said rooms or areas for lighting or extinguishing said lamps, a source of current, a group feeder for supplying current from said source to the lamps in a plurality of said rooms or areas, said group feeder being multipled to the "off contacts of the individual control switch means to light the associated lamps which have been turned off by any one of said means when the group feeder is energized and means for closing the cii'cuit of said group feeder to its source and for thereafter opening the same automatically after a predetermined lapse of time.

8. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps for lighting separate rooms or areas, individual control switch means for each of said rooms orareas for lighting or extinguishing said lamps, a group feeder for supplying current to the lamps in a plurality of said rooms or areas, a plurality of master control switches having their contacts in series relation and so interconnected that successive operation of diiferent ones of said switches alternately closes and. interrupts a circuit therethrough and means including said master control switches for controlling the energizationand deenergization of said group feeder. I

9. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps for lighting separate rooms or areas, individual control switch means for each 5. An electnc lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps for lighting separate rooms or areas, individual control switch means for each of said rooms or areasfor lighting or extinguishing said lamps, a group feeder for supplying current to the lamps in a plurality of said rooms or areas and a plurality of group control switches in circuit with said group feeder, the contacts of said group control switches being so connected in series relation that successive operation of said switches alternately energizes and deenergizes the group feeder to light and extinguish the lamps connected thereto;

6. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality bf lamps for lighting separate rooms or areas, ifidividual control switch means for each rality of master control switches having their contacts in series relation and so interconnected that successive operation of different ones of said switches alternately closes and interrupts a circuit therethrough and-a'r'elay having its windring in series .with the contacts of 'said switches and its contacts in the group feeder to connect and disconnect said feeder from its source.

10. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps for lighting separate rooms or areas, individual control switch means for each of said rooms or areas for lighting or extinguishing said lamps, a retarded or time-delay switch requiring a substantial period of time to complete its operating cycle and means including said retarded switch for controlling the energization of the lamps turned "0 by the individual control switch means as a group.

' 11. -An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps and individual and group concontrol of the group of lamps. said control means embodying combined individual and group con- ,trol switches having a common operating member at each of a plurality of control stations, said member being arranged to operate either its individual or group control switch alone whereby the associated lamp or set of lamps and also the group may be controlled from each of said stations by a common operating member.

12. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps, individual manually operable means to control separate lamps or clusters and automatically operable means to control the group.

13. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps and individual and group control means therefor providing control of separate lamps or clusters and also concurrent control of the. group of lamps, said group control means embodying a low-voltage control circuit, said group control means also embodying group energizing means controlled by said circuit for. concurrent control of the group lamps and a plurality of switches in said control circuit so arranged that successive operation of different switches alternately opens and closes said control circuit to control the group of lamps.

Gil

lamps which are turned off" concurrently as a 14. An electric lighting system comprising a plurality of lamps and individual and group control means therefor providing control of separate lamps or clusters and also concurrent control or the group of lamps, Said group control means embodying a plurality of control stations, a stepby-step switch arranged to close the circuits of the lamps which are turned "off" as a group and means at each of said-control stations for operating said step-by-step switch.

15. An electric lighting system comprisinga plurality of. lamps, individual control means therefor and group control means for concurrently controlling all oi said lamps which are turned off by their individual control means. the individual control means for one 0! said lamps including a movable operating member arranged to control said one lamp when moved in one manner and to control said group control means .when moved in another manner.

PHILO HOLCCMB, JR.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

- y 8,, 9h1. PHILO -HOLC 0MB, JR. 1 It is hereby certified that error appears the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction asfoll'ows: Page 1+, first column, line 19, claim 1, after the word "control" insert --the S8 m 8 as a group by successive manual'--; and second colmnn line lL,-c1aim 6, for "mui- Pstent No. 2,2L ,o

tiplied" read multipled--; page 5, first column; line i8, claim lfi after "group"- insert --of-; and that the said Letters Petent :should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record oi the-case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 50th day of September, A. D; 19141.

- Henry Van Arsdele,

(Sea-l) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

